Facts:

• The case involves The United States vs. Chiong Songco, decided on February 27, 1911.
• Chiong Songco was accused of throwing sulphuric acid on the complaining witness, causing severe injuries.
• The attack occurred at night, with the defendant hiding behind a sheet of zinc.
• The victim was taken by surprise and suffered from illness for over thirty days.
• The trial court found the attack to be treacherous, as defined in Article 10 of the Penal Code.
• Songco was convicted of lesiones under Article 416, subsection 4, and Article 417, receiving a sentence of one year and one day of imprisonment.
• The court acknowledged the presence of treachery, which could lead to a different penalty.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled that the trial court's conviction of Chiong Songco for lesiones was incorrect.
• The Court reversed the trial court's sentence and imposed a penalty of two years of prision corr...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court found that the trial court misapplied the law by convicting Songco under Article 417, which pertains to the use of poisons.
• The use of sulphuric acid in this case did not fit the definition of offenses under Article 417.
• The presence of treachery required a penalty under the last paragraph of Article...continue reading